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Florida Homeschool Information

—Homeschool In Florida—

Homeschooling in Florida

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Find Out What the State Says About Home Education

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Homeschool Summary

Here’s a concise breakdown of Florida’s homeschooling laws under Statute 1002.41 for parents who wish to homeschool:

📝 1. File a Notice of Intent

  • Submit a one-time written notice within 30 days of starting your homeschool program to your county superintendent.

  • Include your child’s name, birthdate, address, and your signature. No official form required.

📚 2. Maintain a Portfolio

  • Keep a contemporaneous log of educational activities (with titles of reading materials used), plus samples of student work (e.g., worksheets, writings, creative projects).

  • Retain the portfolio for at least 2 years.

📌 3. Make Portfolio Available for Inspection

  • The superintendent (or agent) may inspect your portfolio with 15 days’ written notice. They’re not required to, and cannot enforce attendance or daily schedules.

✅ 4. Submit Annual Evaluation

  • Each year—by the anniversary of your initial notice—submit an evaluation demonstrating educational progress commensurate with your child’s ability.

  • Acceptable methods include:

    • Certified Florida teacher review (portfolio + interview)

    • Nationally normed achievement test administered by a certified teacher

    • Florida state assessment test

    • Licensed psychologist evaluation

    • Alternative assessment agreed upon with superintendent 

  • If progress is lacking, the district must issue a one-year probation; continued homeschooling depends on documented improvement.

🛑 5. File Notice of Termination

  • Within 30 days of ending homeschooling (e.g., switching to public/private school, graduating, or moving), file a termination notice with the annual evaluation included. 

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⚠️ 6. No Requirements for:

  • Teaching credentials (unless under private tutor option)

  • Instructional hours/days

  • Specific curriculum or subjects

  • Immunizations or attendance tracking

  • Assessment unless required above

Homeschool In A Private Online Accredited School

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✅ Option 3: Enroll in Out-of-State Private Online School

If you:

  • Fully enroll in an out-of-state private accredited online school (not registered in Florida),

Then Florida likely still considers your child as homeschooled, since the school is not under Florida’s private school oversight.

➡️ You must file as a homeschooler and follow homeschool law (Notice of Intent, portfolio, evaluation).

In Florida, enrolling your child in a private accredited online school (whether in-state or out-of-state) changes how you comply with state homeschool laws, depending on how you enroll:

✅ Option 1: Homeschool Law (1002.41 F.S.) + Online School as Curriculum Provider

If you:

  • File a Notice of Intent and

  • Use an online private school (even accredited) as your curriculum (but you remain the home educator),

Then you are still legally homeschooling under Florida law and must:

  • Maintain a portfolio

  • Submit annual evaluations

  • File termination notice if you stop

📌 The online school does not report to the state—you do.

✅ Option 2: Enroll in a Florida Umbrella or Private School (Including Online)

If you:

  • Enroll in a private school registered in Florida (online or physical),

  • That school handles attendance and academic records,

Then you are not considered homeschooling under Florida law—you’re considered a private school student.

⚠️ You do not file a Notice of Intent, nor submit evaluations to the school district.
✅ This is often referred to as the umbrella school option.

Florida’s School Choice and Scholarship Programs

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🏠 4. Homeschooling via ESA (PEP)

  • Eligibility & Cap
    Under FTC, up to 100,000 students may use PEP ESA to homeschool. First priority ≤ 185% poverty, then ≤ 400% poverty

  • Requirements & Uses
    Parents create a Student Learning Plan and submit annually. ESA funds may be used for curriculum, tutoring, online courses—including Florida Virtual School—and other approved educational services

  • Controversies
    Reports surfaced of some families using PEP funds for non-educational purchases like theme park passes

📊 5. Impact & Participation

  • Scale

    • FTC already the largest tax-credit scholarship in the U.S.

    • Private & homeschool enrollment rose by ~47k and 50k respectively from 2019 to 2023

  • Public School Shifts
    Charter and voucher growth have led to a decline of 53,000 public school students in major districts (2019–2024), raising concerns about closures

  • State Budget Impact
    Florida projects nearly $3.9 billion annually in scholarship spending

Florida Empowerment Scholarship

Here’s an enhanced overview of Florida’s school choice programs and funding, covering private schools, homeschooling, ESAs, and voucher options:

🎯 1. Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship

  • Purpose & Funding
    Funded by corporate donations earning tax credits, with over $1.09 billion available for 2024–25

  • Eligibility
    All Florida K‑12 students eligible for public school may apply. Priority given to:

    • Families ≤ 185% of federal poverty level, foster care

    • Families between 185–400% poverty

    • All other students 

  • Uses
    Funds go into an Education Savings Account (ESA) for tuition at participating private schools, or—under the Personalized Education Program (PEP)—for homeschooling expenses (up to 100,000 students in 2025-26)

  • Awards
    Average awards (2023–24):
    • K–4 ≈ $8,394
    • Grades 5–8 ≈ $7,756
    • Grades 9–12 ≈ $7,693 

🏫 2. Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES)

  • Origins & Categories
    Started in 2019, with two streams:

    • FES‑EO: income-based voucher (≤ 300% poverty, SNAP recipients, military dependents)

    • FES‑UA: supports students with disabilities (replaced McKay/FES UA)

  • Uses
    Voucher paid directly to private school for tuition, remaining funds in ESA may be used for tutoring, curriculum, therapy, etc.

🧩 3. Other Special Scholarships

  • Gardiner Scholarship (Special Needs ESA): Tuition, therapies, homeschool costs, etc.

  • McKay → FES‑UA: Rolled into FES UA as of July 1, 2022; funding based on matrix level

  • Hope Scholarship: For bullying victims, can use FTC or FES‑EO; funded via motor vehicle tax

  • Reading Scholarship: Up to $500 to address reading deficiencies in grades 3–5

 

Homeschool Resources for Florida

Homeschooling has been part of education for centuries. In earlier times, it was simple to begin without worrying about rules or oversight. Today, however, homeschooling regulations vary by state, and some families may find it more challenging to get started. That’s why NFC Academy provides helpful state-specific pages outlining homeschool laws—to guide and support you as you begin your journey.

In areas with stricter requirements, having reliable support is important. Organizations like the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) offer valuable legal guidance and protection, helping families stay informed and confident. With the right tools and resources, homeschooling can be a rewarding and manageable experience, no matter where you live.

Homeschool Legal Defense Association

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Information on this page is intended for informational purposes for homeschool families in the specific state. The information supplied does not, nor is it intended to, provide specific legal advice. For specific legal advice, we recommend you consult an attorney.  Membership with Homeschool Legal Defense may provide legal information for your situation, but you may prefer a local private attorney to review your situation to provide specific legal advice.